Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Alan Reid Bean was born 9th March 1895 at Essendon, Victoria, the son of George Alfred Bean and Amelia Florence Bean nee Davey. Alan’s father was an accountant with the Lands Department and a well known cricketer.

Alan’s siblings were Edgar Layton (Ted) Bean (born 1893, Moonee Ponds, Victoria) and Hilda Florence Bean (born 1897, Adelaide, Victoria).

By late 1903 the family had moved to Kalgoorlie, WA where George was briefly in the firm Bean and Shaw, he later commenced working for Dalgetys.

Education

Alan attended the Kalgoorlie Central State School and later Scotch College, WA. He commenced studying medicine at Adelaide University in 1912 and graduated MB BS in 1917.

Adelaide University Sports

Alan had cricket in his blood. His father George and uncle Ernie were prominent cricketers with the North Melbourne Cricket Club. Uncle Ernie played first class cricket for Victoria and later became a long serving administrator and Australian Test Selector. Despite the cricket heritage, Alan however only managed to play B grade cricket for the Adelaide University Cricket Club for the 1912/13 to 1915/16 seasons. He did manage to play a match or two along-side his brother Edgar (Ted). In the match in January 1913 against Sturt he was involved in a run-out with his brother. In November 1916 Alan took 2 wickets for University B Grade against the St Peter's College team that include Howard Florey.

World War I

Alan’s WWI service is well described in the ‘Blood, Sweat and Tears’ biography.

Mention in Despatches
In January 1919 Capt. Alan Reid Bean was recommended for the Award "Mentioned in Despatches" however there in no record that it was granted or reasons for it.

Alan’s brother, Ted joined the 47th (London) Division of the Royal Field Artillery (a British trench mortar battery) in 1915 and served in France initially attaining the rank of Corporal. He served for four years and later attained the rank of Lieutenant.
Family Life

The ‘Blood, Sweat and Tears’ biography states that Alan married Alison Stuart on 9 November 1965, however research shows that Alan married Alison Stewart on 19th May 1923 at St Andrew’s, Walkerville, SA.

Alan and Alison had three children who were born at Bruce Rock, WA (sons Edgar Stewart Bean, born in 1924 and Alan Graham Stewart (Graham) Bean in 1926 and a daughter Merrill Stewart Bean born in 1928. A further son, Maxwell Pemberton Stewart Bean was born in 1931 in Perth.

In 1924 Allan applied for a War Service Home Loan.

Other Information

While at Bruce Rock, Alan acted as a JP, was on the Hospital Committee, played for the local cricket club and was active in the RSL.

The Bean’s lived at 165 Walcott Street, North Perth in 1931 and at 20 The Terrace, Fremantle from at least 1936.

Alan enlisted during WWII with Service Number - W3609. His WWII record is not yet digitised. As Alan’s name continued to appear in WA newspapers throughout 1939-45, it would appear that his service was within Australia.

Alan’s father passed away on the 18th December 1941 and his mother passed away May 1943. They are both buried at the Mitcham General Cemetery, Old Belair Road, Mitcham, SA.

In August 1946 Dr Frank H Ebell joined Alan in a practice at 111 South Terrace, Fremantle.

Alan and Alison’s son Edgar Stewart (Garry) Bean completed one year of medicine at the WA University then transferred to Adelaide University and was registered as a qualified medical practitioner on 1 September 1947.

Alan and Alison’s second son, Graham Bean, became engaged to Helen Meredith Pearson in January 1951. The couple married in June 1952 at Sty Luke’s Church, Mosman Park and moved to Melbourne.

Alan and Alison travelled to the UK in 1951 returning onboard the Orion which arrived in Fremantle on the 22nd November 1951.

Garry Bean undertook post graduate studies in Adelaide in 1952. He married Barbara Charlotte Hoar the daughter of Mrs R L S Hoar of Hawthorn and the late Mr Hoar. He practiced medicine in WA.

Death

Alan died on 31 March 1958 in Perth and is buried at the Fremantle Cemetery.

Legacy

Alison, Merrill and Maxwell moved to 29 Mc Neill Street after Alan’s death. Merrill was a typist and Maxwell a student in 1958. Alison, Merrill and Maxwell were at the Mc Neill Street address until at least 1963.

Alison Stewart Bean died on the 8th September 1965 and was buried at the Fremantle Cemetery, WA.

Graham and Helen later moved back to WA and Graham was a Civil Servant. Graham died on the 7th July 1999, aged 72 and was buried at the Fremantle Cemetery, WA.

In 1980 Maxwell was living at Hancock Street, Doubleview, WA. He died on the 2nd December 2004 and was buried at the Fremantle Cemetery, WA.

Edgar Steward (Garry) Bean, MBBS FRACP (born 05.06.1924) moved from WA to Southern Sydney, NSW. He died peacefully on the 3rd March 2012, aged 87. He was the beloved husband of 58 years of Barbara Charlotte, father of Penelope (deceased), Jeremy, Andrew, Jonathan and Richard, father-in-law of Gill, Deirdre, Stacie and Eve and loving grandfather of Lily; Stephanie and William; Jordan, Madeleine, Nathanael and Annalise; Gabriel, Claudia and Hamish.

Author EE (Beth) Filmer

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project please see the document attached.